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DictionaryRoot: horkos
Greek

horkos

oath

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A priest holds a crucifix toward a dark, menacing spirit emerging from a seated man's upper body; the spirit recoils while the priest firmly gestures it away.
noun

exorcist

EK-sor-sist/ˈeksɔːrsɪst/

A person who expels supposed evil spirits through ritual or prayer.

Etymology
exGreekout or out of
+orcGreekoath
+istGreekperson who performs an action

The oath root connects this person with solemn invocation rather than physical force. The underlying verb meant “bind by oath” and came to mean driving out an evil spirit—the action an exorcist performs.

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